Von der Leyen Pitches 'Associate Member' Status for Canada: What Does It Mean for EU-US Ties?

Sep 16, 2026 | European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday she wanted to open the door for Canada to become the European Union's first "associate member".Earlier this week, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney — who was in Strasbourg to listen to von der Leyen's annual State of the Union address — said Canada was seeking a "unique alliance" with the EU, but not membership. We discuss this with our guest, Gerardo Fortuna, author of Brussels Playbook.